Ben Maier - OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 Race Preview
Event: OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 (80 laps / 144 miles)
Round: 3 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Date & Time: Saturday, February 28 | 12:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Road Course Stats:
NOAPS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 31st (Victor Gonzalez, Jr. - Watkins Glen, 2018)
NCTS Starts: 52; Poles: 2 (Carson Hocevar - Sonoma, 2022 & Ross Chastain - COTA, 2023) Top-Fives: 4; Top-10s: 13; Best Finish: 3rd (Hocevar - Mid-Ohio, 2023).
- New Track: This weekend will mark the first time that the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) will race at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Saturday’s OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 will be the first of four road course events on the 2026 calendar, including Watkins Glen International, Naval Base Coronado (San Diego), and Lime Rock Park.
No. 4 DQS Solutions & Staffing / J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ben Maier | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Welcome, Ben Maier: 17-year-old Ben Maier will make his first NCTS start with Niece Motorsports this weekend at St. Petersburg. Maier is the 2025 CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series champion, and has won in Trans-Am TA2 competition on road courses. Last year, Maier made his NCTS debut at Lime Rock Park and made an additional start at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
- Maier’s NASCAR Road Course Stats:
Ben Maier will make his first-career NCTS start at St. Petersburg on Saturday.
NCTS Starts: 2; Best Finish: 18th (Lime Rock, 2025).
- Shiplett's NASCAR Road Course Stats:
Mike Shiplett will make his first NCTS start as a crew chief at St. Petersburg on Saturday.
NCS Starts: 22; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 3; Best Finish: 4th (Watkins Glen, 2010).
NOAPS Starts: 23; Wins: 1 (Mid-Ohio, 2016); Top-Fives: 5; Top-10s: 13.
NCTS Starts: 4; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 6th (Charlotte ROVAL, 2025).
- On the Truck: Maier's No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, and BOE Marine.
- Road Course Expertise: Maier is no stranger to road courses, having began his career racing on these types of tracks in the karting ranks. The Maryland-born driver has won 13 national and regional karting championships and earned podium finishes in multiple Stadium Super Truck and Nitro RallyCross events.
- Quoting Maier: You had a chance to race a truck a couple of times last year, so how do they compare to a Trans-Am car?
“I thought that the trucks were going to be a lot more different compared to a Trans-Am car because they are heavier and have more power, but I thought the two felt very similar. There are some slight differences between the two, and the trucks are noticeably heavier, but that makes them super fun to drive. I think Saturday’s race at St. Pete will be an awesome opportunity for us, and I’m very thankful to everyone at DQS, J.F. Electric, BOE Marine, Niece Motorsports, and Team Chevy for letting me be a part of it.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).
About DQS Solutions & Staffing: Guided by a mission to achieve excellence and adaptability, DQS partners with clients to create custom solutions that address unique business challenges. Recognized as Michigan’s fastest-growing company and #22 in the nation on the Inc. 5000 list, DQS drives industry growth while giving back through its nonprofit, Foundation for Pops, and partnerships like the River Rouge School District.
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About BOE Marine: BOE Marine is a Maryland-based leading online retailer of marine electronics and boating accessories, offering top brands, competitive pricing, and expert customer support. Specializing in GPS and chartplotters, sonar, radar, trolling motors, lighting, and marine safety equipment, BOE Marine serves recreational and professional boaters nationwide. Known for its knowledgeable team and customer-first approach, BOE Marine continues to be a trusted source for marine electronics. Learn more at www.BOEmarine.com.
